Fourth Quarter 2008 Earnings Conference Call 26 November 2008 1
Safe Harbor Statement & Disclosures The earnings call and accompanying material include forward-looking comments and information concerning the company s projections, plans and objectives for the future, including estimates and assumptions with respect to economic, political, technological, weather, market acceptance and other factors that impact our businesses and customers. They also may include financial measures that are not in conformance with GAAP (accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America). Words such as forecast, projection, outlook, prospects, expected, estimated, will, plan, anticipate, intend, believe, or other similar words or phrases often identify forwardlooking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements based on a number of factors and uncertainties. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially is contained in the company s most recent Form 8-K and periodic report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and is incorporated by reference herein. Investors should refer to and consider the incorporated information on risks and uncertainties in addition to the information presented here. Investors should consider non-gaap financial measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The company, except as required by law, undertakes no obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new developments or otherwise. The call and accompanying materials are not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any of the company s securities. 2
Fourth Quarter Overview (in millions of dollars except per share amounts) Q4 2008 Q4 2007 Change Net Sales and Revenues $7,401 $6,141 +21% Net Sales $6,734 $5,423 +24% Net Income $345 $422-18% Diluted EPS $.81 $.94-14% 3
Additional Supplemental Data Fourth Quarter 2008 (In Millions) Diluted EPS Net income, as reported $345.0 $0.81 Estimated expenses related to Welland factory closing (not included in 13 August 2008 guidance) 35.0* 0.08 Estimated income excluding special item $380.0 $0.89 NOTE: Due to the magnitude of the amount for the item listed above in the quarter, management believes the above additional supplemental data provides valuable insight into the operating performance for the fourth quarter of 2008. Management believes this presentation will enhance the reader s understanding of the impact of this item on Deere & Company s performance during the quarter. Management does not intend this presentation to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related measures under accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. * Item was not included in the earnings release of 13 August 2008. Event was previously disclosed in press release of 2 September 2008 and Form 10-Q for third quarter filed on 2 September 2008 4
Fourth Quarter Overview Net Sales Equipment operations net sales: Up ~ 24% in Q4 2008 vs. Q4 2007 Currency translation: Flat Price realization: ~ +3 points 5
Production Tonnage* % Change Q4 2008 Actual FY 2008 Actual Q1 2009 Forecast FY 2009 Forecast Total Worldwide +24 +18 +12 (3) Worldwide AG +35 +32 Flat Worldwide C&CE +14 (3) (10) Worldwide C&F (10) (8) (12) Total U.S. and Canada +22 +13 (2) Outside U.S. and Canada +28 +31 (6) U.S. and Canada AG +36 +29 +12 *Percentage change from same period in previous year, excluding purchased product. Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 6
2009 Company Outlook Outlook for 2009 is highly uncertain due to global economic conditions and turmoil in world financial markets. First Quarter 2009 Forecast Net sales up ~ 7% vs. Q1 2008 Currency translation: Price realization: Net income of ~ $275 million Fiscal Year 2009 Forecast Net sales flat from FY 2008 Currency translation: Price realization: Net Income of ~ $1.9 billion Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 ~ (6) points ~ +5 points ~ (6) points ~ +7 points 7
Worldwide Agricultural Equipment Fourth Quarter Overview (in millions of dollars) Q4 2008 Q4 2007 Change Net Sales $4,570 $3,188 +43% Operating Profit* $476 $388 +23% Production Tonnage +35% *Operating profit impacted by: Higher shipment volumes Improved price realization Higher raw material costs Higher SA&G and R&D expenses Closure of facility in Canada Incremental Margin ~ 6% 8
U.S. Commodity Price Estimates 2007/08 Previous 2007/08 2008/09 Forecast Previous 2008/09 2009/10 Forecast Corn (per bushel) $4.30 $4.45 $4.25 $5.50 $4.15 Wheat (per bushel) $7.35 $6.92 $6.50 $7.74 $6.00 Soybeans (per bushel) $10.10 $10.60 $9.30 $13.50 $9.20 Cotton (per pound) $0.57 $0.58 $0.52 $0.65 $0.55 Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 (Previous Forecast as of 13 August 2008) 9
Jan-09F Apr-09F Jul-09F Oct-09F Jul-08 Oct-08 Jan-08 Apr-08 Jul-07 Oct-07 Jan-07 Apr-07 U.S. Farm Prices 16.00 14.00 12.00 10.00 8.00 Soybeans 6.00 4.00 Wheat 2.00 0.00 Jan-02 Apr-02 Jul-02 Oct-02 Jan-03 Apr-03 Jul-03 Oct-03 Jan-04 Apr-04 Jul-04 Oct-04 Jan-05 Apr-05 Jul-05 Oct-05 Jan-06 Apr-06 Jul-06 Oct-06 Source: Actual data from Wall Street Journal Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 Corn 10
U.S. Farm Production Cost / Profitability* Variable production costs: Corn Wheat Soybeans 2008 $2.02 $2.84 $3.27 2009 $2.36 $3.18 $3.57 Prices at which farmers still make good money: Corn $3.10 to $3.30 Wheat $5.40 to $5.80 Soybeans $6.50 to $7.00 *Source: Informa Economics; estimates based on production costs as of 14 November 2008 11
U.S. Farm Cash Receipts (in billions of dollars) 2007 2008 Forecast Previous 2008 2009 Forecast Previous 2009 Crops 147.0 183.0 195.8 168.8 206.0 Livestock 137.9 140.5 137.5 144.8 138.4 Government Payments 11.9 13.3 13.3 10.3 10.3 Total Cash Receipts 296.8 336.8 346.6 323.9 354.7 Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 (Previous Forecast as of 13 August 2008) 12
Agricultural Equipment Retail Sales Industry Outlook U.S. and Canada: Up ~ 5% for Fiscal 2009 Increase in large tractors and combines Agricultural commodity prices at healthy levels, though below 2008 levels Cotton equipment, small tractors, and equipment commonly used by livestock producers projected lower South America: Down 10% - 20% for Fiscal 2009 Credit access in Brazil Drought conditions in Argentina Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 13
Farm Net Income Brazil and Argentina Brazil Argentina (in billions of U.S. dollars) 2007 2008 Forecast 2009 Forecast Range 2007 2008 Forecast 2009 Forecast Range 9.0 15.4 (2.0) - 6.0 5.1 3.4 (6.0) - 8.0 Factors influencing farm net income in 2009: Customers access to credit Increase in input costs Reduction in planted area Drought conditions in Argentina Future of Argentina farming sector will depend more on political decisions (retenciónes), than on economic conditions Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 14
Brazilian Soybean Crop Funding Additional Funding Pressure on Farmers 2007/08 Crop: 2008/09 Crop: Agribusiness* 45% Farmer 25% Agribusiness* 26% Farmer 50% Bank 30% Bank 24% *Agribusiness includes seed, fertilizer, agrochemical and trading companies Source: Agroconsult October 2008 15
European (EU-27) Agricultural Update 2009 outlook: business back to normal Margins and mood back at normal levels Improvements for pork sector Rural finance intact in Western Europe Medium-term prospects Policy shift towards more rural development Higher degree of specialization Slight shift to cash crops from livestock farming Income up in new member states Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 16
Agricultural Equipment Retail Sales Industry Outlook Western Europe Down 5% - 10% for Fiscal 2009 Central Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States countries, including Russia Down moderately Good demand, but depends on access to credit markets Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 17
Worldwide Agricultural Equipment Deere & Company Outlook Fiscal Year 2009 Forecast Net sales projected to be up ~ 5% Currency translation ~ (8) points Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 18
Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Fourth Quarter Overview (in millions of dollars) Net Sales Operating Loss* Production Tonnage *Operating Loss impacted by: Closure of facility in Canada Higher raw material costs Lower shipment volumes Improved price realization Lower SA&G expenses Incremental Margin ~ 4% Q4 2008 $915 -$16 Q4 2007 $1,027 -$11 Change -11% +45% +14% 19
Worldwide Commercial & Consumer Equipment Deere & Company Outlook Fiscal Year 2009 Forecast Net sales projected to be down ~ 6% U.S. housing slump Recessionary economic conditions Partially offset by new products Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 20
Worldwide Construction & Forestry Fourth Quarter Overview (in millions of dollars) Q4 2008 Q4 2007 Change Net Sales $1,249 $1,208 +3% Operating Profit* $89 $134-34% Production Tonnage -10% *Operating Profit impacted by: Higher raw material costs 21
Worldwide Construction & Forestry Strong Performance in Challenging Market Conditions Operating Return on Sales Operating Return on Assets (OROA) Full Year 2008 9.7% 17.6% Note: For reconciliation of OROA to GAAP, please see Reconciliation to GAAP slide in Appendix 22
Worldwide Construction & Forestry Deere & Company Outlook Fiscal Year 2009 Forecast Net sales projected to be down ~ 12% U.S. economic factors Housing starts at 0.6-0.7 million Non-residential spending down ~ 15% GDP growth of ~ (1%) Global forestry markets down Partially offset by new products Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 23
Worldwide Construction & Forestry Expanding Global Footprint China June 2008 - acquired 50 percent of Xuzhou Xuwa Excavator Machinery Co., Ltd. (XCG) First domestic manufacturing operation for the division in China India September 2008 - announced plans to form a joint venture with Ashok Leyland Limited Manufacture and market backhoes and four-wheel-drive loaders Currently evaluating site locations Initial production planned for early 2010 24
Credit Worldwide $22.2 billion Owned Portfolio as of 31 October 2008 Portfolio Composition by Market: Ag Fin Svc 7% C&CE 11% C&F 20% Ag 62% John Deere Capital Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of John Deere Credit Company and is included in the information above 25
Credit Worldwide $22.2 billion Owned Portfolio as of 31 October 2008 Portfolio Composition by Geography: Portfolio Composition by Product: Europe 9% Latin America 4% Australia 2% Revolving Credit 9% Other 1% Canada 10% Leasing 12% Installment Financing 60% U.S. 75% Wholesale / Floorplan 18% John Deere Capital Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of John Deere Credit Company and is included in the information above 26
Credit Credit Loss History Low losses driven by: Strong farmer cash flows Ag & C&CE dealer reserves Rigorous underwriting standards Robust collection practices Strong used equipment values 2.00% Provision for Credit Losses / Average Owned Portfolio Provision for Credit Losses / Average Owned Portfolio 1.50% 1.00% 0.50% 0.00% 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 27
John Deere Capital Corporation Retail Notes 60+ Days Past Due vs. Write-offs Agricultural Equipment Extremely low write-offs; average 12 bps for last 10 years Even in the severe Ag market of the 1980s, losses were comparatively low 2.35% 1.95% Retail Note Losses & Past Dues 1.55% 1.15% 0.75% 0.67% 0.35% -0.05% 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Net Write-offs Installments 60+ DPD Note: 1982 1985 includes Construction; 1986-1994 includes Lawn & Grounds Care; As % of Owned Losses After Dealer Reserve Charges Source: 1982 1994 internal reporting, 1995-2007 JDCC 10K's; 2008 internal reporting 28
John Deere Capital Corporation Retail Notes 60+ Days Past Due vs. Write-offs Construction and Forestry 2008 performed in line with historical average despite severe economic pullback in construction 2.35% Retail Note Losses & Past Dues 2.11% 1.95% 1.55% 1.15% 1.01% 0.75% 0.35% -0.05% 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Net Write-offs Source: 1995-2007 JDCC 10K's; 2008 internal reporting Installments 60+ DPD 29
Credit Fourth Quarter 2008 Net income of ~ $67 million Higher SA&G expenses Increase in average leverage Unfavorable currency translation Higher provision for credit losses Narrower financing spreads Growth in average credit portfolio Increased commissions from crop insurance Fiscal Year 2009 Forecast Net income of ~ $300 million Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 30
Consolidated Trade Receivables & Inventory Change at 31 October: 2008 vs. 2007, 2009 vs. 2008 (in millions of dollars) 2008 Actual 2008 Prior Forecast 2009 Forecast AG 886 875 125 CCE 51 25 75 C&F 53 25 125 Total, as reported 884 925 75 Total, constant exchange 1,290 763 75 Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 (Previous Forecast as of 13 August 2008) 31
Consolidated Trade Receivables & Inventory Continued strong asset management in 2008 60% 55% 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% Prior Year Current Year 20% '00 Q3 Q4 '01 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 '02 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 '03 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 '04 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 '05 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 '06 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 '07 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 '08 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Receivables & Inventory to Previous 12 Months Sales 32
October Retail Sales U.S. and Canada Utility Tractors Row-Crop Tractors 4WD Tractors Combines Industry* 9% 19% 9% 38% Deere** low double digit more than industry double digits triple digits * As reported by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers ** As reported to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers 33
Deere Dealer Inventories U.S. and Canada (at 31 October in units as a % of trailing 12 months retail sales) 2008 2007 Row-Crop Tractors 11% 21% Combines 2% 1% As reported to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers 34
October 2008 Retail Sales Western Europe Deere & Company Tractors Combines Flat single digit Based on EU Government Reporting of Registrations 35
October 2008 Retail Sales U.S. and Canada Deere & Company Commercial & Consumer Equipment low double digit Construction & Forestry First-in-the-Dirt Settlements single digit Flat 36
Liquidity and Bank Support In the past eight weeks, successful access to commercial paper market Typically issuing more than $700 million per week Weighted average term ~25 days Majority of commercial paper outstanding matures after 31 December 2008 Ahead of last year s pace $4.5B credit facility supporting commercial paper Have not drawn on facility $1.7 billion incremental capacity To be prudent: $400M capital infusion into JDCC in October Not currently repurchasing shares 37
Material Costs and Freight Equipment Operations Fourth Quarter 2008 Up ~ $305 million vs. Q4 2007 Fiscal Year 2008 Up ~ $550 million vs. FY2007 By division Agricultural Equipment: ~ $405 Commercial & Consumer Equipment: ~ $ 65 Construction & Forestry: ~ $ 80 Previous forecast up $425 - $475 million Previous Forecast as of 13 August 2008 38
2009 Material Costs and Freight Equipment Operations Fiscal Year 2009 Up $500 - $900 million vs. FY2008 By division Agricultural Equipment: $350 - $625 Commercial & Consumer Equipment: $ 75 - $125 Construction & Forestry: $ 75 - $150 Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 39
Research & Development Expense Equipment Operations Fourth Quarter 2008 Up ~ 17% vs. Q4 2007 Fiscal Year 2008 Up ~ 15% vs. FY2007 Currency translation ~ 2 points Previous forecast ~ 16% Currency translation ~ 3 points Fiscal Year 2009 Up ~ 5% vs. FY2008 Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 (Previous Forecast as of 13 August 2008) 40
Selling, Administrative & General Expense Equipment Operations Fourth Quarter 2008 Flat vs. Q4 2007 Includes ~ 5 points related to global growth initiatives Fiscal Year 2008 Up ~ 13% vs. FY 2007 Includes ~ 9 points related to global growth initiatives and currency translation Previous forecast ~ 16% Included ~ 10 points related to global growth initiatives and currency translation Fiscal Year 2009 Up ~ 2% vs. FY 2008 Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 (Previous Forecast as of 13 August 2008) 41
Tax Rate Equipment Operations Fourth Quarter 2008 Effective tax rate of ~ 41% Shift in geographic mix of income Distributions of non-u.s. income Partially offset by R&D tax credit Fiscal year 2008 Effective tax rate of ~ 36% Previous forecast of ~ 36% Fiscal Year 2009 Forecast Assumes tax rate of ~ 35% Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 (Previous Forecast as of 13 August 2008) 42
Other Information Fiscal Year 2008 Equipment Operations Capital Expenditures ~ $773 million Previous forecast ~ $775 million Depreciation and Amortization ~ $484 million Pension/OPEB Contributions ~ $430 million Financial Services Capital Expenditures ~ $339 million Primarily Wind Previous Forecast as of 13 August 2008 43
Other Information Fiscal Year 2009 Forecast Equipment Operations Capital Expenditures ~ $1.0 billion Depreciation and Amortization ~ $525 million Pension/OPEB Contributions ~ $170 million Financial Services Capital Expenditures ~ $125 million Primarily Wind Deere & Company Forecast as of 26 November 2008 44
Appendix 45
Share Repurchase as Part of Publicly Announced Plans Cumulative cost of repurchases since 2004: $5.6 billion Balance remaining on May 2007 40-million share authorization: 13.7 million May 2008 share authorization: $5.0 billion 2008 period ending shares: 422.3 million FY2008 Shares Repurchased* (in millions) Total $ Amount (in billions) Actual Shares Repurchased* (in millions) Total $ Amount (in billions) Q1 5.8 $0.5 2004 5.9 $0.2 Q2 6.1 $0.5 2005 27.7 $0.9 Q3 4.5 $0.3 2006 34.0 $1.3 Q4 4.8 $0.4 2007 25.7 $1.5 Total 21.2 $1.7 Total 93.3 $3.9 * All shares adjusted for two-for-one stock split effective 26 November 2007 46
OROA Reconciliation to GAAP Worldwide Construction and Forestry in millions of dollars, unless indicated 2008 Operating Profit $ 466 Average Identifiable Assets With Inventory @ LIFO $ 2,456 With Inventory @ Std Cost $ 2,641 OROA @ LIFO 19.0% (Operating Profit / Average Assets) OROA @ Standard Cost 17.6% (Operating Profit / Average Assets) 47
Deere s first quarter 2009 conference call is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. central time on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 48